8 Principles for Successful Teams

What makes certain communities stick together over long periods? What’s the key to surviving through adversity and protecting the community? Political Economist and Economic Science Nobel Prize Winner Elinor Ostrom spent many years studying group collaboration around the world and found 8 governing principles that leads to a stable community, team or organisation.

Ostrom’s 8 Principles

1. Clearly defined group and goals

2. Fair distribution between effort and reward – roles, workload and remuneration

3. Fair and inclusive decision-making

4. Follow-up on agreed behaviours – positive feedback and transparency

5. Graduated sanctions for unhelpful behaviours – kind corrections and psychological safety

6. Fast, cheap and simple conflict management

7. Mandate for self-determination – independent employees and self-governing teams

8. Coordination with other groups – collaboration between teams, organisations and regions